The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Type 34 occupies a precise niche in post-war European automotive history: a grand-touring coupé shaped by Ghia of Italy, built by Karmann in Osnabrück, and riding on the VW Type 3 platform rather than the Beetle's Type 1 floorpan. Norev's 1:18 die-cast model captures that singular design in Manila Yellow — a factory Volkswagen colour from the 1960s — with contrasting black trim that reflects two-tone schemes of the era.
While the Type 14 Karmann Ghia is a familiar sight at air-cooled gatherings worldwide, the Type 34 — known in Germany as the Großer Karmann Ghia — was a more ambitious machine. It shared its floorpan with the VW Type 3, giving it a longer, wider stance than its Beetle-based sibling. Beneath the rear deck sat an air-cooled flat-four displacing 1,493 cc and producing approximately 45 hp, sufficient for relaxed grand-touring use in the early 1960s. The full-width front bumper, hidden door hinges, and an upgraded interior all marked the Type 34 as the upmarket choice in the Karmann Ghia range.
Built for Europe: 42,498 Coupés and a Market That Never Reached the USA
Series production ran from 1962 to 1969, with a total of approximately 42,498 coupés leaving the Karmann works in Osnabrück. Unlike the Type 14, the Type 34 was never officially exported to the United States, which has made it considerably rarer in North American collections and a particularly valued subject for European-market enthusiasts. Manila Yellow (Manilagelb) was among the period-correct factory colours offered on Volkswagen models through the 1960s, and the black roof treatment on this example is consistent with two-tone combinations associated with the Karmann Ghia line of that decade.
Norev's 1:18 Scale Model in Die-Cast Metal
Norev's 1:18 range has built a solid reputation among collectors for accurate panel lines and well-resolved interior detail, and the Karmann Ghia Type 34 is a natural subject for the format. The model is produced in die-cast metal, giving it the weight and finish that suit a car whose real-world proportions — 4,285 mm overall length — translate well to this scale. The Manila Yellow paintwork and contrasting black trim are carried through with the consistency that Norev applies across its classic European road car catalogue.
In the Display Cabinet
The Type 34 sits naturally alongside other air-cooled Volkswagen models in any serious 1:18 collection. A Volkswagen Beetle Type 1, a VW Type 3 Notchback or Fastback, and a Porsche 356 from the same period all make coherent companions — each representing a distinct strand of German engineering from the 1960s. For collectors focused on coachbuilt European GT coupés of the era, the Type 34's combination of Ghia design lineage and restricted production numbers gives it a presence on the shelf that goes well beyond its modest horsepower figures.
